Ottawa

Brandon Volpi, Ottawa student, dead after prom night stabbing

The father of 18-year-old Brandon Volpi says his son, an Ottawa high school student, died after a stabbing outside the Les Suites Hotel, where students say a fight broke out during a prom night after-party.

Students say fight broke out during after-party outside Les Suites Hotel

Student dies after prom night stabbing

10 years ago
Duration 3:02
Family, friends and classmates mourn the stabbing death of Brandon Volpi after prom.

An 18-year-old student has died from injuries suffered in a stabbing outside the Les Suites Hotel in downtown Ottawa, where students say a fight broke out during a prom night after-party.

Brandon Volpi, 18, died from his injuries after a stabbing outside a downtown Ottawa hotel early in the morning of June 7, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Volpi's family)
Ottawa police and paramedics responded to the 100 block of Besserer Street at about 3:35 a.m. ET Saturday for a reported stabbing.

They found one victim with serious injuries and another with minor injuries.

Danny Volpi confirmed to CBC News his son, Brandon, died in hospital after he was stabbed in the throat and chest. He also said Brandon was a Grade 12 student at St. Patrick's High School.

"To my dear son may you rest in peace. I miss you with all my heart. May justice be served and find who killed my son," Danny Volpi wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

Volpi also said his son was involved in many sports teams, including rugby and football.

Student tried to help friend during after-party

Students who spoke to CBC News said a fight broke out during a prom night after-party, which led to the stabbing.

Volpi's friend, Kevin Charles, and other witnesses said one of their friends was involved in an altercation outside, while Volpi and others were inside the hotel. The witnesses said Volpi went outside to escort the friend away when he was attacked.

One student said she later saw paramedics try to save Volpi outside the hotel.

“I heard screaming from inside my room and I came running outside and I saw a bunch of people screaming. There was a guy holding his neck leaning up against the statue," said Grade 12 student Megan Desabrais, who's graduating from St. Pius.

Blood-stained clothing and other objects lay near a statue in front of Les Suites Hotel, where 18-year-old Brandon Volpi was stabbed. Volpi later died in hospital. (CBC)
Some also said students from three Catholic high schools in the city's south end — St. Joseph's, St. Pius X and St. Patrick's — were staying at the hotel.

Police said a second victim was treated at hospital and later released. Witnesses said that victim was the friend Volpi had tried to escort away.

The Ottawa police major crimes section is investigating the homicide, which is the city's third of 2014.

Police still looking for suspect

On Saturday afternoon, police said they were still looking for a suspect and nobody was in custody. They said it's likely alcohol was involved in the incident.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board also released a statement Saturday after the stabbing.

"With sadness, we can confirm that the victim was a student at St. Patrick’s High School," read the statement from spokeswoman Mardi de Kemp.

"The board will be co-operating fully with the ongoing police investigation. School and board counselling staff have been contacted and will be available for students and staff for as long as needed. The school community will be praying for the victim and family."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477.